In the latest developments from the Will County triple homicide case, prosecutors have highlighted the deeply unstable nature of the relationship between Jenna Strouble, 30, and Jacob Q. Lambert, 32 — the father of her two young children. New details from court filings and investigative evidence suggest that Strouble may have accessed Lambert’s phone in the moments leading up to the alleged shootings on March 22, 2026, potentially uncovering information that fueled her rage and contributed to the rapid escalation.

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Strouble faces nine counts of first-degree murder in the deaths of Lambert, his mother Stacy J. Forde, 54, and his stepfather Patrick J. Forde, 55. The victims were found shot to death in and around their family home in the 3400 block of East Norway Trail in unincorporated Crete Township, Illinois.

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The Unstable Relationship and Shared Children

Court documents describe the pair’s relationship as on-again, off-again since around 2020. They shared two children — a 4-year-old daughter and a 3-year-old son — and maintained occasional intimate encounters alongside co-parenting efforts. However, the dynamic was marked by significant tension.

In January 2025, deputies responded to a domestic battery call at their shared residence, resulting in Strouble being involuntarily committed for mental health evaluation. Lambert had reportedly been focusing on sobriety and rebuilding his life, according to family statements. Strouble had voluntarily turned the children over to Lambert and his parents earlier but had recently regained access, adding to the high-conflict custody and parenting disputes.

Prosecutors note Strouble’s complaints about Lambert’s parenting style and her perception that his parents were overbearing. When questioned about her motives, she allegedly cited a “general dislike” and concerns over how Lambert spoke to the children. She also reportedly considered harming her own parents, fearing the children would not be safe in their care.

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The Phone Access: A Potential Trigger?

According to prosecutors, Strouble allegedly accessed Lambert’s phone minutes before the fatal encounter. While specific contents of what she may have discovered have not been publicly detailed in full, sources close to the investigation suggest it involved messages or information that heightened her emotional distress and sense of betrayal amid their already volatile co-parenting and intimate relationship.

This alleged access occurred shortly after she had texted Lambert a casual invitation to “hang out and go for a drive.” Phone records previously revealed missed calls and the seemingly dating-toned message, which prosecutors now tie into a broader pattern of premeditation mixed with impulsive escalation. Strouble reportedly admitted going to the meeting “with an intention to harm him,” though she claimed she “didn’t expect to have the nerve to do it” at first.

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Investigators are examining digital evidence, including cell phone data, to establish the exact timeline and any triggers. The phone access is being viewed as a possible catalyst that turned a planned meeting into a deadly sequence of events.

The Alleged Sequence: From Massage to Multiple Shootings

Strouble picked up Lambert late on March 22. They drove toward Plum Creek Nature Preserve but, finding it closed, pulled over along Burnham Road. There, she offered him a “surprise” back massage using a massage gun. Lambert reportedly reclined face-down in the passenger seat of her vehicle.

According to her statements to deputies, Strouble retrieved a Glock 19 handgun fitted with a suppressor (purchased months earlier specifically for this purpose) from under the seat. She allegedly held the gun to the back of his head for about eight minutes while continuing the massage before firing a single shot.

She then drove to the Forde family home. Patrick Forde answered the door, and Strouble allegedly began shooting immediately, striking him multiple times (reports indicate around 17 rounds in the home). Stacy Forde was found shot on the stairs near the front door. Strouble reportedly attempted to use Lambert’s keys to enter before the confrontation escalated inside.

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When asked if she went to the parents’ home to prevent them from gaining custody of the children, Strouble allegedly responded, “Yeah, pretty much.”

Arrest and Detailed Confessions

After the shootings, Strouble returned to her home in St. John, Indiana. She called her sister to confess and reportedly wrote a note the night before naming individuals to care for her children. When deputies arrived, she handed them a bag containing the loaded Glock 19 with suppressor. She waived her rights and provided extensive statements that form the core of the prosecution’s case.

Forensic evidence includes spent shell casings at the scenes, the suppressor purchase (online for around $589), and the gun bought in December 2025 in Crown Point. Lambert’s body was found face-down in a 2014 Ford Fusion in a nearby cul-de-sac/driveway area.

Community Impact and Victim Tributes

The quiet suburban neighborhood in Crete Township was shaken by the violence. Neighbors reported hearing gunfire, and the welfare check around 2 a.m. on March 23 revealed the devastating scene. The family was known for close ties, with Lambert remembered as a devoted father working toward stability, and his parents as loving grandparents and community members.

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A wake and community support have highlighted the profound loss for the two young children, now without their father and grandparents. Extended family has stepped in amid the ongoing legal proceedings.

Legal Proceedings and Broader Implications

Strouble is being held in the Will County Adult Detention Facility in Joliet. Her detention hearing has faced delays due to her attorney’s schedule with another trial, with proceedings pushed to early April 2026. Prosecutors are seeking pretrial detention under the SAFE-T Act, citing the premeditated elements, detailed confessions, and perceived ongoing danger (including her statements about her own parents).

The case continues to unfold as investigators analyze phone records, vehicle data, and forensic evidence. The alleged phone access adds another layer to understanding the escalation in what prosecutors describe as a calculated yet emotionally charged series of acts rooted in long-standing relationship conflicts.

This tragedy underscores the risks in high-conflict co-parenting situations involving past domestic incidents and mental health challenges. Authorities continue to urge anyone with relevant information to contact the Will County Sheriff’s Office.

As court proceedings advance, more details about the phone evidence and any discovered content may emerge, potentially clarifying the final triggers in this heartbreaking case.